Intensity: High 
Enjoy a Zip Line Canopy Adventure!
Zip lining is Costa Rica’s signature adventure, a thrilling way to soar through rainforests, cloud forests, or along rugged coastlines. It’s your ticket to epic views of volcanoes, oceans, and wildlife like monkeys, sloths, and toucans. As the pioneer of canopy tours, Costa Rica offers world-class zip line experiences that blend heart-pounding excitement with stunning nature, all with a focus on safety. Whether you’re a kid, a thrill-seeker, or just want a fresh perspective, zip lining is an unforgettable way to experience Costa Rica’s wild beauty.
Why Zip Line in Costa Rica
Picture yourself gliding through deep jungles, spotting wildlife from angles most never see, with volcanoes, rolling hills, or shimmering coastlines in the distance. Zip lining offers a front-row seat to Costa Rica’s incredible biodiversity. You’ll zip along secure cables, ranging from 100 feet to nearly a mile, reaching heights up to 600 feet. Some tours add heart-racing extras like Tarzan swings, rappelling, or hanging bridges for those craving more adrenaline.
What to Expect
Zip line tours typically start with a short hike or aerial tram to elevated platforms deep in the forest. From there, you clip into pro-grade cables and glide between platforms, often across 8 to 15 lines per course. Tours vary in speed, length, and intensity—some are high-speed with Superman-style cables, others slower for soaking in the scenery. Expect three to five hours of adventure, including hotel pickup, bilingual guides, and top-notch safety gear like harnesses, helmets, and double-pulley systems. Weight limits usually cap at 300 pounds, and safety is ensured with certified guides and dynamic braking. Wear comfy clothes, closed-toe shoes, and bring sunscreen, insect repellent, or rain gear depending on the season (November to May is driest).
Where to Go
Costa Rica’s zip line spots cater to every vibe. Arenal offers volcano and lake views with fast-paced cables. Monteverde’s cloud forests deliver misty, wildlife-rich tours, including some of the longest lines in the country. Guanacaste and the Nicoya Peninsula blend coastal scenery with jungle thrills, often with ocean vistas. Manuel Antonio and the Central Pacific mix rainforest zips with beachy views, while the Osa Peninsula provides remote, high-altitude adventures for off-the-grid explorers. Each region offers unique landscapes and heart-pumping fun.
FAQs About Canopy Zip Line in Costa Rica
The best zip line canopy tour in Arenal depends on what you want to see. Tell our travel agents whether you prefer to zip line near the Arenal Volcano National Park or over the baby-blue La Fortuna Waterfall.
The Monteverde Zip Line Canopy Tour is the longest, at just over 5,220 feet! That’s almost a mile. As a bonus, this location also offers the famous Tarzan Swing. Are you brave enough to make the jump?
They are both incredible, but Monteverde is cooler temperature-wise. So if you want to have some fun in the sun, go with Arenal, but if you’re hoping to experience a cloud forest, Monteverde all the way!
Many tourists want to experience the thrill of speed safely, and zip lining is an excellent option. First, you're given safety equipment before starting the tour, and expert guides double-check that you have it all on correctly. Then, after the safety check, you are suited up in a tight harness and carabiners that are doubled up from safety. Finally, as you move one clip from zip line to zip line, the other is still attached to the first one, so you’re safely connected at all times.
